Family fun at the Söllereck

Successful placement as a year-round destination in close cooperation with Sunkid

The OBERSTDORF · KLEINWALSERTAL BERGBAHNEN are diverse destinations for lovers of nature, adventure and sports enthusiasts. The Söllereck is located in the middle of it all. It is THE family mountain in the Allgäu – all year round. In our interview, Henrick Volpert, board member of the Kur- und Verkehrsbetriebe AG Oberstdorf, explains how positioning as a year-round destination was made possible.

Mr Volpert, what were or what are your goals at the Söllereck?

The focus at the Söllereck specifically is to offer experiences for a multi-generation family. We started out with a comprehensive strategy and development process in 2016. The goal of the Oberstdorfer Bergbahn AG is positioning the Söllereck as a leading family and year-round mountain for the region.

What operative measures did you take to have the Söllereck perceived as a year-round mountain?

Our target was to offer a matching highlight year-round for all family members. In summer, the valley and mountain station areas are improved with attractive accommodation and play areas. The focus is on the SölliBully, of course: the wood snow groomer from Sunkid for climbing and exploration. There is also a nature experience value with its interactive installations, targeted at a wide age range. We made sure that the play areas work in summer and winter alike. Last year, "Sölli's ball race" was added, which we designed together with Sunkid. Possibly the longest wood ball track in the world, it leads from the mountain to the valley station of the Söllereckbahn and has become a must see.

How did your investments into summer pay off?

We are very happy with the development. Sölli's ball race, for example, has surpassed our boldest expectations and is also particularly popular among local families. However, we strive to give customers a constantly improving infrastructure in winter as well. This begins with the Sunkid conveyor belt that "collects" guests right by the car park, and goes all the way through the children's skiing lands of the four skiing schools of our skiing area. There, conveyor belts and monster courses make sure that children will have lots of fun as they learn how to ski. Sunkid, the specialist in terms of snow experience worlds, not only delivered the infrastructure for our children's skiing land. We are also currently developing the new adventure slops Sölli's Magical Forest together, to be opened in 2019 together with a new artificial snow facility.

2018-10

Henrik Volpert, board member of Oberstdorfer Bergbahn AG: "Two years ago, we started positioning the Söllereck as a leading family- and year-round mountain in the region – with great success so far. Sunkid was and remains a highly valuable partner for us in planning and implementation."